BAUCHI State government has approved the award of contract for the automation of land and geographic information system of the state Ministry of Land and Housing, even as it informed that work on the review of the Bauchi Masterplan had reached an advanced stage of completion.

Briefing journalists, on Thursday, at the Government House, Bauchi, on the outcome of the fortnight state executive council meeting held on Wednesday, the Commissioner for Information, Mr Mohammed Damina, who was in company of other commissioners, informed that the approval given for the automation was in line with global best practices.

According to Damina, “The system will reduce the rampant cases of frauds and vices associated with land administration and improve service delivery.”

The contract, according to the Commissioner for Land and Housing, Alhaji Aminu Hammayo, was to cost the government N297,470,000.11.

The first Bauchi Masterplan, according to the information commissioner, was prepared in 1976 to cover between then and 2000, saying that the review version would be for between 2008 and 2030.

Damina also stated that council, in line with the Governor Isa Yuguda administration’s desire to create employment opportunities for the people of the state, was informed of government desire to procure additional fertiliser blending plant with a view to improving the production capacity of the company.

This, Damina said was to, apart from generating more employment for the people, ensure that farmers in the state have “easy access to fertiliser and improved revenue to the state.”

Council, according to the commissioner, noted the concerted effort being made by the Ministry of Culture and Tourism to improve on the operations of teh Yankari Game Reserve, noting that, “this will subsequently improve the revenue generation of the reserve as well as reduce the activities of hoodlums.